Take a moment and look at all the living things around you. Take in any plants, animals, or even other people around you. All these have a few things in common, but the one I want you to think about is the fact when any living thing stops growing it begins to wither away and ultimately dies. It is a principle of life that when something is no longer growing it is actively dying. Our faith is not just some plain aspect of our life. It is a living growing thing that this principle of life also applies to. If a Christians faith stops growing, it will wither away until it finally is dead and gone.
This is why the Apostle Paul was to adamant is his letters to instruct the readers to continue to grow in their faith. Because if we stop watering our faith, it will slip away before we even realize it. So Paul was always sure to emphasize the need for believers to always be growing.
Colossians 1:9–10 (ESV)
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
1 Thessalonians 3:12 (ESV)
12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
Paul even eludes to his own need to always be growing when he speaks on trying to reach that perfect state. But stating that he had not, nor would he, reach that state until he enters the presence of the Lord in Heaven. Until that day comes there will always be areas in our walk with God that we can grow in.
Philippians 3:12 (ESV)
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Our lives should be a reflection of what the psalmist wrote in Psalm 92. The faith of a true believer should continue to grow well into their old age. Never should it wither or stop bringing forth fruit. But it should always continue to grow and produce greater and great things.
Psalm 92:12–14 (ESV)
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
To ensure our faith is always growing we must water it. Just as you would any other living thing but not with the water of this world. The water we use to grow as Christians comes from time spent in the Word. Time spent communing with God in prayer. Praising God and worshiping Him for all He has done. Going to church and hearing the Word preached before you and every other thing that builds faith in our lives.
2 Timothy 3:14–17 (ESV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Jude 20 (ESV)
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 14:19 (ESV)
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
By doing these things you will ensure that your faith never dies. These simple actions will cause you to hold firmly to the truth you were taught. Then you will not have run the race in vain. Your name will be found in the book of life and you will be received in Heaven.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (ESV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
Revelation 21:27 (ESV)
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
If you allow your faith to die then we are giving up your salvation. It was by faith that you were even able to obtain salvation in the first place. So if you no longer have faith you can no longer consider yourselves among the saved through Christ.
John 3:18 (ESV)
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Don’t watch your faith die and miss out on all you were going to receive through Christ. The forgiveness, the peace, and your eternal place in God’s kingdom. Choose to revive your faith and return to the things of God. Salvation is not promised to those who do not believe. Start watering your faith now. Do all you can to cause it to grow and produce fruit for the Lord. Start praying, read your Bible, and get to the church whenever you can. Because if you are not keeping your faith alive it is dying.
We hope this has been the spark that will help you get back on the right track with your faith. Don’t lose faith but allow it to grow like never before in your life. Help us to turn others back to their faith by sharing this article. Your share may be the first drop of water need to revive the faith of another. Bringing their faith back from the edge of death.
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